Posture improving device

ABSTRACT

A posture improving device that includes a housing assembly having two belt segments extending from opposite sides thereof, which device may be adjustably mounted to encircle the waist of a user when he is standing with correct posture and with his stomach muscles taut. The device lightly contacts the waist portion of the user when he is so standing, but upon the user assuming an incorrect posture in which his stomach muscles are allowed to sag, additional tension is placed on the belt segments that results in an electric circuit being completed within the housing to actuate a buzzer or other sound reproducing device to warn the user that his posture is incorrect. The device is compact, light in weight and may be worn by a user without the device being conspicuous.

United States Patent 15] 3,670,320 Palmer [4 June 13, 1972 [54] POSTURE IMPROVING DEVICE 1,693,734 12/1928 Waggoner ..200/DlG. 2 Inventor: Robert D. Palmer 6475 Bayard, g 2,135,476 11/1938 Rugh ..200/DlG. 2 Beach cahf' 90815 Primary Examiner-Thomas B. l-labecker 22 Filed; July 6, 1970 AtmrneyWilliam C. Babcock [21] Appl. No.: 52,172 57 ABSTRACT A posture improving device that includes a housing assembly [52] US. Cl ..,340/279, ZOO/61.4, 128/78 having two belt segments extending from opposite sides [51] Int. Cl. ..G08b 3/00 thereof, which device may be adjustably mounted to encircle 58] Field of Search ZOO/61.58 SB, 61.4

the waist of a user when he is standing with correct posture and with his stomach muscles taut. The device lightly contacts the waist portion of the user when he is so standing, but upon the user assuming an incorrect posture in which his stomach muscles are allowed to sag, additional tension is placed on the belt segments that results in an electric circuit being completed within the housing to actuate a buzzer or other sound reproducing device to warn the user that his posture is incorrect. The device is compact, light in weight and may be worn by a user without the device being conspicuous.

1 Claim, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJun 13 1972 3. 6 70, 32 O INVENTOR. Ra e-27D. PALMER POSTURE IMPROVING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention Posture improving device.

2. Description of the Prior Art I In the past, various types of posture improving devices have been devised and used to a limited extent. Such devices have the operational disadvantages that they are uncomfortable to wear, and are in the form of a harness or the like that has little or no resiliency or give.

The present invention overcomes the operational disadvantages of such prior art devices by providing a belt-like unit that does not confine the user, but simply warns the user when his posture is incorrect. After the wearing of the device as hereinafter described, the user will tend to automatically maintain his stomach muscles in a taut condition, realizing that as .soon as he relaxes and allows the muscles to sag, the device will audibly warn him of this condition. From experience it has been found that the user tends to retain the stomach muscles in a taut condition after the device has been removed, due to a carry over mental reaction that subconsciously warns the user that his posture is incorrect.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A light weight compact housing assembly that has first and second belt segments extending from opposite sides thereof, which segments may be removably engaged to encircle the waist portion of a user and exert a light contacting force thereon so long as the user is standing with correct posture and with his stomach muscles in a taut condition. Upon the user allowing his stomach muscles to sag or expand, additional tension is placed on the belt segments that results in an electric circuit being completed within the housing to sound an audible alarm, and warn the user that he is standing with incorrect posture.

A major object of the present invention is to provide a lightweight posture improving device that has an .extremely simple mechanical structure, may be fabricated from standard commercially available material, is simple and easy to use, occupies an inconspicuous position on the user when in a waist encircling position, and one that is so inexpensive to produce that it can be retailed at a sufficiently low price as to be available to practically any individual that desires to improve his posture and his well being that is normally associated with correct posture.

Another object of the invention is to supply a posture improving device that is of such design that a substantial part of the housing assembly may be readily formed by injection molded plastic components that are quickly and easily assembled.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an individual with the posture improving device mounted in a waist encircling position thereon;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the housing taken on the line 3-3 ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the house portion of the device taken on the line 404 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of a plate that forms a part of the housing assembly; and

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view of the cealed within the housing.

electric circuit con- DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT contacted encircling the waist of a user F as shown in Figure l. The belt segments C and D exert a light pressure on the waist of the user F when he is standing with correct posture and his stomach muscles in a taut condition. Upon the user F allowing his stomach muscles to relax and sag, additional tension is placed on the belt segments C and D that results in an electrically operated assembly E situated within the confines of the housing B and shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 to be actuated and sound an audible alarm that the user is not standing with correct posture.

The housing assembly B as may best be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4 includes a fiat elongate plate 10 that has first and second sides 12 and 14, as well as first and second ends 16 and 18. Each of the belt segments C and D is of substantial width, and formed from a pliable sheet of strip material. The first segment C has a first end portion 20 thereof secured to the second surface 14 of plate 10 adjacent the first end 16 thereof by a number of rivets 22 or other suitable fastening means as shown in FIG. 3. First and second generally cup-shaped housing defining members H and .I are provided that have the free edges thereof in abutting contact with the plate 10 as shown in FIG. 4. 1

The first housing defining member I-l cooperates with the plate 10 to define a first compartment 24 as may best be seen in FIG. 4, and the second compartment defining member J also cooperates with the plate 10 to provide a second compartment 26 as shown in FIG. 4. The end portions of the second housing defining member J has two aligned transverse slots (not shown) therein that have portions of the first and second belt segments C and D extending therethrough.

The plate 10 is preferably formed from a polymerized resin and has two longitudinally aligned guides 28 extending outwardly from the second side 14 thereof as shown in FIG. 3. A first post 29 extends outwardly from the second side 14 of plate 10 and is preferably situated adjacent the first end 16-of the plate. A flat elongate tact with the second surface 14 of plate 10 as may best be seen in FIG. 3, with the member K including a first leg 30 and second leg 32 normally disposed thereto. The second leg 32 is situated adjacent the second end 18 of the plate 10 as shown in FIG. 3.

First leg 30 has an elongate longitudinally extending slot 34 formed therein that slidably engages a stud 36 that projects outwardly from plate 10. The first leg 30 supports a second post 38. A tensioned helical spring 40 having looped ends extends between the first and second posts 29 and 38 and is in engagement therewith. The spring 40 at all times tends to maintain the member K in a first position shown in FIG. 3.

A generally U-shaped flange 42 projects outwardly from the second side 14 of plate 10 and has an elongate electrically actuated buzzer 41 situated within the confines thereof. Flange 42 extends around three sides of an opening 43 defined in plate 10. A normally open electrical switch L is provided, and includes a body 44 that is secured to the second side 14 of member 10 by conventional means. The switch L includes a longitudinally movable, spring loaded actuated pin 46. First leg 30 has a lug 48 projecting outwardly from the upper right hand end portion thereof as viewed in FIG. 3, which lug has an L-shaped clip 50 secured thereto by a rivet 52 or other conventional fastening means. Second leg 32 of member K has a first end portion 53 of second belt segment D rigidly secured thereto by rivets 54 or other suitable fastening means. The first housing defining member His removably held in abutting contact with the first side 12 of plate 10 by a screw 56 that extends through an opening 58 formed in the member, and engages a tapped bore 60 formed in a boss 62 that extends outwardly from the plate 10 as shown FIG. 4. One or more batteries 64 are removably held in a frame 66 preferably formed of plastic that is secured to the first side 12 of plate 10 by conventional means as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The normally open electric switch L has the terminals 68 and 70 thereof connected to two electric conductors 72 and 74 that are connected to the batteries 64 and to the buzzer 42. A third elecmember K is in slidable abutting contric conductor 76 extends from the buzzer 42 to the batteries 64 as shown in FIG. 6. The connections E on the second end portions of the belt segments C and D are pads 76 and 78 of an engaging and engageable material such as Velcron that bond to one another when in pressure engagement. The First belt segment C may have a guide 80 mounted on the free end thereof, through which the end portion of the second segment D may be extended as the belt segments are adjusted to the encircling position shown in FIG. 1. This guide may be eliminated if desired. The belt segments C and D are adjusted around the waist of the user F to lightly contact the same, when the user has correct posture and his stomach muscles are taut.

When the user allows his stomach muscles to sag and expand, the circumference of his waist increases, with tension being places on the belt segments C and D to the extent that member K is moved from the first position shown in FIG. 3 to a second position where the clip 50 pressure contacts pin 46, and places switch L in a closed position. The closed switch L completes a circuit from the batteries 64 to the buzzer- 42, and the sound of the buzzer alerts the user F that his posture is inference of his waist decreases, and the spring 40 returning the member K to the first position illustrated in FIG. 3. The slot 34 is of such length that the right hand end thereof as viewed in FIG. 3 contacts the stud 36 when the member K is in the second position, and the stud acting as a stop to prevent excessive pressure being placed by the clip 50 on the pin 46. The lug 48 is so disposed that it contacts one of the guides 28 when the member E is in the first position and acts as a stop.

By loosening the screw 56, the first housing defining member l-l may be removed from the plate 10, to permit new batteries 64 to be inserted in frame 66. The second housing defining member J is preferably permanently bonded at its abutting edge to'the plate by an adhesive (not shown) to prevent the second housing member .l being removed from the plate 10, and the components on the second side 14 of plate 10 tampered with by user.

The use and operation of the device has previously been explained in detail and need not be again repeated.

lclaim:

1. In a posture improving device of the type that includes first and second belt segments that have first ends, means on second ends of said belts for removably holding said segments in an encircling position about the waist of a user, and an electrically operated alarm assembly interposed between said first ends of said segments that emits an audible sound when said user allows his stomach muscles to relax and expand, said alarm assembly comprising:

a. an elongate rigid plate that has first and second ends and first and second sides, with said first end of said first belt segment connected to said first end of said plate;

b. a first post, open frame, stud, and a pair of guides that extend outwardly from said first side of said plate;

0. a fiat, elongate member of L-shape that includes first and second legs, said member in slidable contact with said first side of said plate, said first leg longitudinally aligned with said plate and said second leg transversely positioned relative to said plate, said first leg having an elongate, longitudinally extending slot therein that slidably engages said stud to limit the longitudinal movement of said member relative to said plate;

d. first means for securing said first end of said second belt segment to said second leg;

e. a second post that extends outwardly from said first leg;

f. a tensioned spring that extends between said first and second posts for holding said member in a first position relative to said plate when said user maintains said stomach muscles in a taut condition;

g. an electrically operated buzzer mounted in said frame;

h. abattery;

. second means that extends outwardly from said second side of said plate for removably supporting said battery at a fixed position relative to said plate; a normally open electric switch mounted on said first side of said plate;

k. electrical circuit means for connecting said battery,

buzzer and switch to one another;

1. a clip mounted on said first leg that is moved to contact said switch and place the latter in a closed position when said member moves to a second position upon the user allowing his stomach muscles to relax and expand, with said spring returning said member to said first position upon said user placing said stomach muscles in a taut condition.

in. a tapped boss that extends outwardly from said second side of said plate;

n. a first. cup-shaped housing member that has the peripheral edge thereof in abutting contact with said second side of said plate, and said first housing member concealing said battery and second means;

0. a screw that extends through an opening in said first housing member to engage said tapped boss to removably hold said first housing member on said plate to permit said first housing member to be periodically removed for said battery to be replaced with a fully charged battery; and

p. a second cup-shaped housing member secured to said first side of said plate, said second housing member having openings in the ends thereof through which portions of said first and second belt segments extend, and said second housing member serving to conceal said buzzer, switch and spring. 

1. In a posture improving device of the type that includes first and second belt segments that have first ends, means on second ends of said belts for removably holding said segments in an encircling position about the waist of a user, and an electrically operated alarm assembly interposed betwEen said first ends of said segments that emits an audible sound when said user allows his stomach muscles to relax and expand, said alarm assembly comprising: a. an elongate rigid plate that has first and second ends and first and second sides, with said first end of said first belt segment connected to said first end of said plate; b. a first post, open frame, stud, and a pair of guides that extend outwardly from said first side of said plate; c. a flat, elongate member of L-shape that includes first and second legs, said member in slidable contact with said first side of said plate, said first leg longitudinally aligned with said plate and said second leg transversely positioned relative to said plate, said first leg having an elongate, longitudinally extending slot therein that slidably engages said stud to limit the longitudinal movement of said member relative to said plate; d. first means for securing said first end of said second belt segment to said second leg; e. a second post that extends outwardly from said first leg; f. a tensioned spring that extends between said first and second posts for holding said member in a first position relative to said plate when said user maintains said stomach muscles in a taut condition; g. an electrically operated buzzer mounted in said frame; h. a battery; i. second means that extends outwardly from said second side of said plate for removably supporting said battery at a fixed position relative to said plate; j. a normally open electric switch mounted on said first side of said plate; k. electrical circuit means for connecting said battery, buzzer and switch to one another; l. a clip mounted on said first leg that is moved to contact said switch and place the latter in a closed position when said member moves to a second position upon the user allowing his stomach muscles to relax and expand, with said spring returning said member to said first position upon said user placing said stomach muscles in a taut condition. m. a tapped boss that extends outwardly from said second side of said plate; n. a first cup-shaped housing member that has the peripheral edge thereof in abutting contact with said second side of said plate, and said first housing member concealing said battery and second means; o. a screw that extends through an opening in said first housing member to engage said tapped boss to removably hold said first housing member on said plate to permit said first housing member to be periodically removed for said battery to be replaced with a fully charged battery; and p. a second cup-shaped housing member secured to said first side of said plate, said second housing member having openings in the ends thereof through which portions of said first and second belt segments extend, and said second housing member serving to conceal said buzzer, switch and spring. 